Coalition to boost rural health infrastructure
30th October, 2007
Walk-in walk-out medical facilities in rural towns received a boost with news that a re-elected Coalition Government will improve the Rural Medical Infrastructure Fund (RMIF). Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said up to $5 million per year will be available to build new clinics and make rural practice more attractive for doctors and allied health professionals.
“Local communities in Wide Bay will benefit from these changes which will give them better access to funds to improve local health services,” Mr Truss said.
An application for funding for a project at Tiaro is currently being considered by the Australian Government.
“Rural areas have the right to be able to access modern facilities and top medical care. Ensuring doctors, dentists and allied health professionals have access to best practice is vital to improving primary health care in rural Australia,” Mr Truss said.
“The RMIF helps to ensure rural Australia has the facilities needed for quality, affordable health care. The Coalition will reform the eligibility and assessment criteria for the RMIF to ensure we deliver bricks and mortar where needed most.”
Mr Truss said a re-elected Coalition Government will increase the cap of $400,000 per project to $1 million and remove the existing population rules restricting RMIF funding to towns of less than 10,000 people. All towns that fall within the Inner Regional, Outer Regional, Remote and Very Remote classifications used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics will now be eligible to apply.
“We will allow local communities to apply for funds to build clinics in State and Territory owned infrastructure, and for private medical practices to apply for small grants of up to $75,000 in certain circumstances,” Mr Truss said.
“Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services will also become eligible to apply.
“In addition to these changes, the criteria for Regional Partnerships are being streamlined.”
“Coupled with the changes announced above, this will make the RMIF more flexible, reduce assessment times for applications and cut red tape to get medical infrastructure on the ground where needed.”
ENDS
